5 Things You Don’t Know About ‘Side Effects’ Star Rooney Mara

She's Been Surprising Audiences Since Her First Performance

Despite being a shut-in, Mara felt herself driven to be an actress. She surprised classmates and teachers alike, however, when she auditioned for her ninth grade school play: Romeo & Juliet. Mara performed her monologue and, after darting off the stage, soon discovered that she won the lead role of Juliet. One of the teachers that cast Mara in the play, Mr. Shanely, remains in close contact with the star to this day.